Nizzy wrote:P.S. whats your take on IGGY selling his house? Do you think he is ever going to return to the flames eventually? thx

Spoiler:

I posted something about this in the house thread, linking Iginla's press conference, but he has essentially said he had his choice of 29 hockey teams to go play for and he chose Pittsburgh. He chose this team because they have the two best players in the world, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. He stated that he wants to play with those players and ultimately win a Cup. The only way I see Iginla leaving Pittsburgh is if they decide not to sign him at a discount (which as I said above would be foolish) OR he wins a Cup this year. He doesn't see any other team in the league with a better chance than the Pens. And keep in mind his list was submitted BEFORE Murray, BEFORE Morrow, so he isn't just jumping on the bandwagon hoping this one shot works out.

Iginla is a fierce competitor and the only quality that might go above this is his loyalty. He stuck to the city of Calgary like the class act he is despite season after season of crap players and disappointment. As the Captain should he take some blame for this disappointment? Absolutely. But the fault does not lie entirely at his feet. How does that old saying go, you can lead a man to water but you can't make him drink? Oh gosh now I am getting philosophical? Someone stop the madness!

The truth of it is, if it wasn't for him and Kipper the Flames would never had made the playoffs, we never would have had that magical 04 run and I would probably be on medication for severe depression. This kind of loyalty is what you want on your team, Iginla described leaving Calgary as hands down the toughest decision he has ever made in his life. A lot of people will say "Oh yea, no brainer..." but really think about that statement. The toughest decision in your entire life? When all you want to win is a Cup and this team is clearly going full rebuild and you still hesitate down to the last minute to leave? Loyal to a fault.

Also keep in mind that Iginla plays 82 games, and no offense but that seems to be pretty rare for stars on the Pens. In any training camp be it world junior, Olympic or NHL Iginla has always been praised as the best in shape, year after year, the guy is a fitness maniac.

As for selling his house, this doesn't surprise me as I said in the other thread, he summers in BC and I don't expect he will return to this area for at least a few years. The only way he comes back to Calgary as a hockey player is if he wins a Cup this year like I said above.. but even then I can't see it. The Iginla era is over and the best thing he can do for the Flames right now is stay away and let them rebuild their identity. He might come back to retire there if his current team isn't competitive, but believing that team will be the Pens I can't see it.

I fully expect he will be involved in the organization in some way post retirement though. Bah wow long post, sorry for the novel, can you tell I like Iginla?

At this point in time, from what I've seen over the past few weeks specifically...I'll be VERY shocked if Tyler Kennedy is a Penguin after this season. Anything besides under 1M, 4th line minutes.. this guy doesn't deserve any playing time. Never improves anything. Looking at him now, you wonder how he even played the past 5 seasons. Just amazingly bad, and I legit stepped off him and gave him another chance. Tyler Kennedy just can't do multiple "average" level NHL things. Can't dump the puck appropriately. Just a complete AHL player at this point nothing more. I don't even think he's better than Jeffrey, and he's kind of bad.

Anyone here actually considering fitting him into the roster? I heard someone else say for RFA you cannot reduce the contract price. There's no way he gets another 2.0M. So its almost a guarantee he's gone right?

I'm ok with Letang being dealt off this offseason. I'm not sure why I am the only one that is not overly impressed with his play and think there are guys in the system to replace him including one that is getting pretty close (depres). That money will free up room for Malkin to be signed for 14/15.

Replacing Orpik with Bortuzzo (or other good prospects that are coming along) as mentioned at the end of 13/14 seems feasible and that frees up some more money as well. I think his tough style of play and age has caught up with 44

Beveridge wrote:I think every summer we should bump You're the GM threads from ~3 years ago and change the title to "This is why you are NOT the GM" and make a post highlighting some of the lol ideas and reasons.

There isn't really going to be a replacement for Orpik. No matter what people think of him, you rarely find players with the combo of mobility and "threat of severe violence" that can eat up minutes like he does. You're gonna have a guy like Dumoulin and then a guy like a Murray where the sum of their parts bring the same things as l an Orpik and someone else brings, but you're not going to get someone who slots in to bringing just what Orpik brings.

Idoit40fans wrote:There isn't really going to be a replacement for Orpik. No matter what people think of him, you rarely find players with the combo of mobility and "threat of severe violence" that can eat up minutes like he does. You're gonna have a guy like Dumoulin and then a guy like a Murray where the sum of their parts bring the same things as l an Orpik and someone else brings, but you're not going to get someone who slots in to bringing just what Orpik brings.

This is a pretty good response. Replace Dumoulin with Harrington, but the message is the same. You'll have Harrington's defense and Bortuzzo/Murray/Ruopp/whoever's physicality. It's just not the same, ya know?

All these defensive prospects. Another serious reason along with the cap, of why Paul Martin's last year will be 2013-14. I think a team wouldn't mind picking him up for the last year on his contract. Or maybe I'm wrong?

While I am no where qualified to make this statement...I can't see Iggy not in a Pens sweater next season. He said he doesn't see him self as a rental. He CHOSE the Pens. He has excelled as a Pen. He hasn't yet started his time with Sid.

That said, he would need to be reasonable Cap wise. He had his 7 mil contract. He would need to accept the Doan-ish contract the Pens put together earlier (thank goodness Doan chose to stay there or this post would be null). And DAMN IT they are the Pittsburgh Frankin' Penguins!!!! The most hated Organization everybody would love to play for...eh, maybe not that last part...

First thing Shero has to do is fire the entire coaching staff. That is the biggest issue.

Secondly, he needs to figure out if its just a coaching problem, or if there is also an issue with some of the players.

MAF should be traded for picks. He needs a new start. He's done here.You see what Letang is looking for his contract, and if its not reasonable based off his playoff performance this year than you make a big trade involving him.

-Byslma is canned either way you look at it.-Try to trade Fleury for picks/prospects.-Trade the rights to some of your UFAs to get back some picks you gave up acquiring them.-Trade Letang for a treasure chest.-Hold onto: Crosby, Malkin, Sutter, Neal, Bennett, Martin, and Despres.-Bury Engelland in Siberia.

DontToewsMeBro wrote:-Byslma is canned either way you look at it.-Try to trade Fleury for picks/prospects.-Trade the rights to some of your UFAs to get back some picks you gave up acquiring them.-Trade Letang for a treasure chest.-Hold onto: Crosby, Malkin, Sutter, Neal, Bennett, Martin, and Despres.-Bury Engelland in Siberia.

Ha agree with everything.

A little bit of a youth movement is needed next year I think. Make Despres and Bennett big time contributors, and bring up Dumoulin and give Harrington and Pouliot a look.

Only UFAs I for sure want to bring back are Dupuis and Cookie. I'd like Murray back for something reasonable, which would send Nisky packing. I hate to see Morrow leave empty handed, seems like a great dude and is playing his heart out. I just don't think he has anything left. Iggy, wow, just not what I was expecting.